Buddleja lindleyana ‘Floral Fanfare’ is completely different to the species and maybe the world’s first double flowered Buddleja. The purple–violet flowers are like B. lindleyana, but 95% are layers of silky double petals and strikingly beautiful It can be grown as a shrub, although it is best trained on a short 1m stem to show off the pendulous flowers in a container or on a Patio.
Prune late spring down to 25cm but some protection in the first winter if the temperature falls below – 8°C may be necessary
The flowers are unscented and completely sterile, so no unwanted seedlings. The plant directs its energy into a long-lasting floral display from July until the end of September.
Regular removal of old flowers will extend the flowering period.
History
Over the past 20 years I have used Buddleja lindleyana several times as part of a breeding programme .
The Hillier Manual of Trees and Shrubs describes Buddleja lindleyana as such: The flowers’ racemes are purple-violet which are individually strikingly beautiful. The overall effect is that only the flowers at the tip are in bloom, the rest on the racemes go brown.
In a controlled back cross with Buddleja crispa, one seedling out of several hundred had double flowers.
Buddleja Floral Fanfare has been extensively trialled in my garden and 95 % of the flowers come true as doubles.
